THALIA
Thalia stuck close to Obi-Wan as they walked through the busy station of the Lower Levels. Groups of people stumbled around drunkenly, while others waved and shouted to each other across the platform. It smelt musty, like a mix between old food and smoke, which billowed out in plumes from a grubby pipe by the back wall.
"Is it always like this?" She asked, bumping in to the Jedi's shoulder as he stopped suddenly to let a wobbling Rhodian pass with a bottle in each hand.
"You're not enjoying the salubrious delights of the Lower Levels?" He asked as they started moving again.
"Not overly." Thalia answered as a long train pulled into the station ahead of them.
The grimy doors shuddered open and people spilled out onto the platform. Thalia tried to step out of the way as a Hutt, who had somehow fit in the carriage, lurched into her and she grabbed Obi-Wan's arm to stop herself from falling. As people began to surge into the carriage, she realized that it would be a good idea to keep a tight hold of him so they didn't get separated.
Once they were on the train, she pressed herself into the corner of the carriage with Obi-Wan beside her. Thalia thought her personal space was safe until a large man with a nose on the back of his head instead of the front lurched backwards, squashing her against the opposite door.
"Sorry miss." He grunted, and stepped forward.
She glanced up at the nose, which had started to run and turned her head away in disgust. However, she looked up quickly when she heard someone clear their throat. Beside her, Obi-Wan was trying to suppress a laugh.
"Not funny." She hissed, but her last syllable was drowned out by a loud snort from the nose and she had to turn away herself to stop the laughter threatening to escape her lips.
Thankfully for Thalia, the pair left the train after only a couple of stops and they stepped out onto a bustling street. Directly opposite them was a busy diner with the name Dex Jetstter's sprawled across the door in bold letters.
"A diner?" Thalia asked skeptically.
Obi-Wan didn't reply but raised his eyebrows at her, as a 'wait and see' gesture before walking across the empty street.
He pulled open the glass door and Thalia stepped inside the brightly painted diner. The booths were red and the walls had white subway tiles up to the pale pink ceiling. Against the far wall was a bar with red tiles splashed up the front of the high table, which was packed with people enjoying a drink or several.
"Someone to see ya, honey!" A female droid on wheels called as soon as it spotted Obi-Wan. "Jedi by the looks of him."
"Obi-Wan!" A loud voice boomed and Thalia followed the sound to see a flabby, male Besalisk. He wore a stained white t-shirt and baggy brown pants that Thalia wished he'd use one of his fours hands to pull up the back of.
"Hello Dex." Obi-Wan grinned and Thalia gave him a skeptical sideways glance.
"Take a seat, I'll be right with you." Dex boomed.
"Come on." Obi-Wan said to Thalia and directed her to an empty booth.
"You wanna cup of Jawa juice?" The droid called.
"Yes please." Obi-Wan nodded.
"What about you, honey?" It asked Thalia, but she shook her head.
"Oh, yes. Two please." Obi-Wan cut in before turning to Thalia. "You'll like it."
"Are you sure about your friend? Can you trust him?" Thalia asked, sitting down opposite the Jedi.
"Try not to worry. Oh, and can I borrow your ring?" He asked and Thalia crossed her arms skeptically before sighing and handing over the crystal ring. The droid rolled over with two glasses of dark green drink and Obi-Wan slid one across the table to Thalia.
"I want that back." She said eyeing the ring, but was drowned out by Dex's booming voice.
"Hey, old buddy!" He grinned and pulled Obi-Wan into a four-armed hug.
As the Jedi again took his seat, Dex squeezed in beside Thalia and she scooted up against the wall because he took up most of the bench.
"So, my friend, what can I do for you?" Dex asked and Thalia watched Obi-Wan closely, curious as to how he was going to go about his investigation.
"My friend and I have heard some talk that there are some pretty rare crystals for sale on the Black Market." He began, and Dex eyed Thalia who was busy staring at a suspicious looking stain on the opposite bench. "Kyber Crystals. Have you heard anything about that?"
"Well, would you look at that." Dex cooed as Obi-Wan handed him the ring and he flipped it between his hands. "I bet you Jedi are in a bit of a pickle since that pesky little Princess closed off the caves."
"Uh yes…" Obi-Wan began and then glanced at Thalia's sour expression. "…it is a little tricky at the moment."
"Are these being sold on the Black Market?" Thalia asked as Dex chuckled.
"There's a man who goes by the name 'Luca'. You'll find him in the Kasakar Club on Level 2685. I heard his supplier has quite the collection." The four-armed man said, and then held up a fat finger. "But they're quite pricey, so be prepared to pay an arm and a leg."
"Pesky?" Thalia said incredulously to herself as she and Obi-Wan stood outside the diner after bidding farewell to Dex. She looked up at the Jedi who had a strained expression on his face, like he was trying not to smile. "Shut up." She muttered.
"Come on. Level 2685 is a long way down. If you liked the Lower Levels you're really going to like the bottom of the pile." He said and Thalia began mentally preparing herself for the filth to come.